Plasmids which contained the translational fusion of Escherichia coli lacZ to Rhodobacter capsulatus ferredoxin genes, fdxN and fdxA, were constructed. Effects of growth conditions on the expression of each ferredoxin were analyzed by measuring the beta-galactosidase activity in R. capsulatus which harbored a corresponding plasmid. Transcription of fdxN::lacZ, the ferredoxin I fusion gene, was regulated at least 100-fold by either NH4+ or O2 but not by illumination, confirming that fdxN belongs to the nif-gene family. Transcription of fdxA::lacZ, the ferredoxin II fusion gene, however, was constant under all the conditions surveyed, suggesting that the protein has some constitutive function(s).